Dr. Sunita Iyer: Bridging Healthcare, Education and Community at UW Bothell

Dr. Sunita Iyer, an Associate Teaching Professor in the School of Nursing and Health Studies at the University of Washington Bothell, is a dedicated educator and clinician with a rich background in naturopathic medicine and midwifery.

Her multifaceted career seamlessly integrates teaching, clinical practice, and community engagement; demonstrating UW Bothell’s framework of cross-disciplinary scholarship, connected learning, and community engagement through her important work that bridges diverse fields of study.

By integrating insights from disciplines such as social justice, education, and environmental sustainability, Dr. Iyer creates a holistic approach to addressing complex societal challenges. She actively engages with local communities, ensuring that her research and teaching are not only academic pursuits but also responsive to real-world needs. This commitment to connecting theory with practice enriches both her students’ learning experiences and the broader community.

Education & teaching philosophy

Dr. Iyer earned her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in 2008 and has been involved in graduate and doctoral-level education since 2009. In 2016, she joined UW Bothell, where she has become known for her innovative teaching methods that blend writing, art, nature, and well-being into her courses. Her areas of teaching interest include healthcare systems and policy, health behaviors and behavior change, social justice in healthcare, and self-awareness/mindfulness practice. Dr. Iyer is particularly focused on integrating poetry as a reflective practice and a tool for student voice, enhancing the learning experience by encouraging creativity and self-expression.

Clinical & community practice

Dr. Iyer has been a dedicated naturopathic doctor and midwife for 17 years, blending her extensive clinical experience into her teaching. She thrives on the “town doctor” lifestyle, where she works closely with families to support health, welcome babies, navigate parenthood, and age gracefully. Dr. Iyer is especially drawn to life’s transitions and transformations, including birth, postpartum, adolescence, menopause, aging, retirement, and loss.

Her dual role as both a teacher and a clinician is essential to her practice, as the term “doctor” comes from the Latin docere, meaning to teach. Teaching nursing and community health students, her patient care background enriches the classroom experience, connecting academic knowledge with real-world healthcare experiences. Her training in integrative therapeutics, natural medicine, botanical medicine, counseling, and therapeutic nutrition provides students with valuable tools to navigate health issues, discern online health information, and improve patient care.

Dr. Iyer also founded and directed Eastside Natural Medicine, an integrative medical clinic, where she specialized in reproductive, perinatal, and pediatric health. Her clinical experiences have profoundly influenced her teaching, allowing her to provide students with real-world insights into patient care and healthcare systems. Dr. Iyer is also actively engaged in community outreach, contributing to public health education and advocating for social justice in healthcare.

Pedagogical innovations & research

Dr. Iyer is committed to advancing pedagogical practices in higher education. Her current research explores the utilization of technology, writing, and multimedia in teaching, with a focus on improving academic writing instruction in the age of artificial intelligence. She is also dedicated to developing better practices for teaching academic writing to students who write in their non-primary language. By weaving reflection and creativity into her teaching, Dr. Iyer fosters an inclusive and dynamic learning environment that prepares students to navigate the complexities of the healthcare field.

Dr. Iyer is actively engaged in exploring creative pedagogy, collaborating with faculty at UW Bothell and the University of Glasgow to integrate creative practices into teaching across disciplines. As part of this work, she participated in a podcast hosted by Becca Price (IAS) to discuss the role of creativity in science education. In collaboration with Alison McCandlish from the University of Glasgow, Dr. Iyer is also leading a “sound project” that examines how sound influences reflection and learning. 真人线上娱乐y are currently writing about the use of sound in teaching and learning space design, with plans to publish their work this spring. As a writer and couch poet, Dr. Iyer also incorporates poetry into her courses, using it as both a reflective practice and an outlining tool to help students engage deeply with their learning.

Challenging conventions

真人线上娱乐 DEI Fellowship is an application-based opportunity to join a cohort focused on advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across the UW Bothell campus. This initiative spans various areas, including teaching practices, student support, advising, counseling, library services, and more. As part of this cohort, Dr. Iyer is leading a project aimed at supporting faculty in teaching and assessing writing for students who are writing in a non-primary language. 真人线上娱乐 project challenges traditional writing conventions, encouraging reflection and integration. 真人线上娱乐 Fellowship will culminate in a campus symposium and an online showcase in May.

Courses taught

At UW Bothell, Dr. Iyer teaches a diverse range of courses that highlight her interdisciplinary approach and commitment to social justice. Among the courses she offers is Mental Health & 真人线上娱乐 Life, a Discovery Core Experience course, where students explore the critical connections between mental health, academic success, and campus life. This course reflects Dr. Iyer’s commitment to addressing real-world issues by integrating perspectives from psychology, education, and health. In addition to this, Dr. Iyer teaches courses such as Social Justice in Healthcare, Health Policy and the Organization of Healthcare, and Developing Public Speaking and Teaching Skills for Advocacy in Patient Care, all of which equip students with the knowledge and skills to become compassionate, effective healthcare professionals. Through these courses, Dr. Iyer fosters both academic and community engagement, preparing her students to make a meaningful impact in the world.

Dr. Sunita Iyer’s dedication to integrating clinical expertise with innovative teaching and community engagement exemplifies UW Bothell’s mission to foster cross-disciplinary scholarship, connected learning, and societal impact. Her holistic approach to healthcare education not only enriches the academic environment but also inspires students to become advocates for change in their communities.